(eBook Science - PDF) Nikola Tesla - Illustrated Autobiography Free Energy

8/6/2019 (eBook Science - PDF) Nikola Tesla - Illustrated Autobiography Free Energy

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THE STRANGE LIFE OF

NIKOLA TESLA


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The Strange Life of Nikola Tesla

Editors Note, August 28, 1995

This text has been entered by John R.H. Penner from a small booklet found in aused bookstore for $2.50. The only form of date identification is the name of theoriginal purchaser, Arthua Daine (?), dated April 29, 1978.

The book appears to be considerably older, made with typewriters, and thenphotocopied and stapled. The only other significant features of the booklet is that itcontains four photocopied photographs of Tesla, and was originally forty pageslong. I must apologise for the qualitty of the scans, but the originals were of verypoor quality, and this is the best that could be obtained after touching-up inPhotoshop.

The book has no Copyright identification, nor any means of contacting thepublishers. As far as I am aware, this autobiography is no longer available in printedform anywhere.

In the interest of making this important text available to the wider public, I haveretyped the entire text word-for-word as it originally appears into this electronicformat. The only words which appear in this file, that are not in the original bookare this Editors Note, and the Introduction. I have exactly maintained page numbersas they appear in the original including the somewhat odd artifact of Chapter 1starting on page two.

If anyone knows how to reach the original publisher, please contact me at the belowaddress, so proper credit may be given where it is due.

John Roland Hans Penner

464 Scott StreetSt. Catharines, OntarioL2M 3W7, CanadaPhone: 905.646.3551eMail: [email protected]

This file may be freely redistributed as long as its content is not modified in anyway. It may not be sold or published for profit unless specifically authorised prior topublication by the express permission of Kolmogorov- Smirnov Publishing, or JohnR.H. Penner. Unless otherwise notified, this work is Copyright 1995 by John R.H.Penner.

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The Strange Life of Nikla Tesla

Introduction

Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia (then part of Austria-Hungary) on July 9, 1856,and died January 7, 1943. He was the electrical engineer who invented the AC(alternating current) induction motor, which made the universal transmission anddistribution of electricity possible. Tesla began his studies in physics and

mathematics at Graz Polytechnic, and then took philosophy at the University ofPrague. He worked as an electrical engineer in Budapest, Hungary, andsubsequently in France and Germany. In 1888 his discovery that a magnetic fieldcould be made to rotate if two coils at right angles are supplied with AC current90 out of phase made possible the invention of the AC induction motor. The majoradvantage of this motor being its brushless operation, which many at the timebelieved impossible.

Tesla moved to the United States in 1884, where he worked for Thomas Edisonwho quickly became a rival Edison being an advocate of the inferior DC powertransmission system. During this time, Tesla was commissioned with the design of

the AC generators installed at Niagara Falls. George Westinghouse purchased thepatents to his induction motor, and made it the basis of the Westinghouse powersystem which still underlies the modern electrical power industry today.

He also did notable research on high-voltage electricity and wirelesscommunication; at one point creating an earthquake which shook the ground forseveral miles around his New York laboratory. He also devised a system whichanticipated world-wide wireless communications, fax machines, radar, radio-guidedmissiles and aircraft.

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The Strange Life of Nikola Teslaiv

NIKOLA TESLA IS THE TRUE UNSUNGPROPHET OF THE ELECTRIC AGE!;without whom our radio, auto ignition,

telephone, alternating current powergeneration and transmission, radio andtelevision would all have been impossible.

Yet his life and times have vanished largelyfrom public access.

This AUTOBIOGRAPHY is released to remedy thissituation, and to fill this BLACK HOLEin information space.

Kolmogorov- Smirnov Publishing.


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The Strange Life of Nikla Tesla v


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The Strange Life of Nikola Teslavi

October 13, 1933


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The Strange Life of Nikla Tesla 1


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Chapter 1My Early LifeBy Nikola Tesla

The progressive development of man is vitally dependent on invention. It is themost important product of his creative brain. Its ultimate purpose is the completemastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of the forces of nature tohuman needs. This is the difficult task of the inventor who is often misunderstoodand unrewarded. But he finds ample compensation in the pleasing exercises of hispowers and in the knowledge of being one of that exceptionally privileged classwithout whom the race would have long ago perished in the bitter struggle againstpitiless elements. Speaking for myself, I have already had more than my fullmeasure of this exquisite enjoyment; so much, that for many years my life was littleshort of continuous rapture. I am credited with being one of the hardest workers andperhaps I am, if thought is the equivalent of labour, for I have devoted to it almost

all of my waking hours. But if work is interpreted to be a definite performance in aspecified time according to a rigid rule, then I may be the worst of idlers.

Every effort under compulsion demands a sacrifice of life-energy. I never paid sucha price. On the contrary, I have thrived on my thoughts. In attempting to give aconnected and faithful account of my activities in this story of my life, I must dwell,however reluctantly, on the impressions of my youth and the circumstances andevents which have been instrumental in determining my career. Our first endeavoursare purely instinctive promptings of an imagination vivid and undisciplined. As wegrow older reason asserts itself and we become more and more systematic anddesigning. But those early impulses, though not immediately productive, are of the

greatest moment and may shape our very destinies. Indeed, I feel now that had Iunderstood and cultivated instead of suppressing them, I would have addedsubstantial value to my bequest to the world. But not until I had attained manhooddid I realise that I was an inventor.

This was due to a number of causes. In the first place I had a brother who was giftedto an extraordinary degree; one of those rare phenomena of mentality whichbiological investigation has failed to explain. His premature death left my earthparents disconsolate. (I will explain my remark about my earth parents later.) Weowned a horse which had been presented to us by a dear friend. It was a magnificentanimal of Arabian breed, possessed of almost human intelligence, and was cared for

and petted by the whole family, having on one occasion saved my dear fathers lifeunder remarkable circumstances.

My father had been called one winter night to perform an urgent duty and whilecrossing the mountains, infested by wolves, the horse became frightened and ranaway, throwing him violently to the ground. It arrived home bleeding andexhausted, but after the alarm was sounded, immediately dashed off again, returningto the spot, and before the searching party were far on the way they were met by myfather, who had recovered consciousness and remounted, not realising that he hadbeen lying in the snow for several hours. This horse was responsible for mybrothers injuries from which he died. I witnessed the tragic scene and although somany years have elapsed since, my visual impression of it has lost none of its force.The recollection of his attainments made every effort of mine seem dull incomparison. Anything I did that was creditable merely caused my parents to feeltheir loss more keenly. So I grew up with little confidence in myself.

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But I was far from being considered a stupid boy, if I am to judge from an incidentof which I have still a strong remembrance. One day the Aldermen were passingthrough a street where I was playing with other boys. The oldest of these venerablegentlemen, a wealthy citizen, paused to give a silver piece to each of us. Coming tome, he suddenly stopped and commanded, Look in my eyes. I met his gaze, myhand outstretched to receive the much valued coin, when to my dismay, he said,

No, not much; you can get nothing from me. You are too smart.They used to tell a funny story about me. I had two old aunts with wrinkled faces,one of them having two teeth protruding like the tusks of an elephant, which sheburied in my cheek every time she kissed me. Nothing would scare me more thenthe prospects of being by these affectionate, unattractive relatives. It happened thatwhile being carried in my mothers arms, they asked who was the prettier of thetwo. After examining their faces intently, I answered thoughtfully, pointing to oneof them, This here is not as ugly as the other.

Then again, I was intended from my very birth, for the clerical profession and this

thought constantly oppressed me. I longed to be an engineer, but my father wasinflexible. He was the son of an officer who served in the army of the GreatNapoleon and in common with his brother, professor of mathematics in a prominentinstitution, had received a military education; but, singularly enough, laterembraced the clergy in which vocation he achieved eminence. He was a veryerudite man, a veritable natural philosopher, poet and writer and his sermons weresaid to be as eloquent as those of Abraham a-Sancta-Clara. He had a prodigiousmemory and frequently recited at length from works in several languages. He oftenremarked playfully that if some of the classics were lost he could restore them. Hisstyle of writing was much admired. He penned sentences short and terse and full ofwit and satire. The humorous remarks he made were always peculiar and

characteristic. Just to illustrate, I may mention one or two instances.Among the help, there was a cross-eyed man called Mane, employed to do workaround the farm. He was chopping wood one day. As he swung the axe, my father,who stood nearby and felt very uncomfortable, cautioned him, For Gods sake,Mane, do not strike at what you are looking but at what you intend to hit.

On another occasion he was taking out for a drive, a friend who carelessly permittedhis costly fur coat to rub on the carriage wheel. My father reminded him of itsaying, Pull in your coat; you are ruining my tire.

He had the odd habit of talking to himself and would often carry on an animatedconversation and indulge in heated argument, changing the tone of his voice. Acasual listener might have sworn that several people were in the room.

Although I must trace to my mothers influence whatever inventiveness I possess,the training he gave me must have been helpful. It comprised all sorts of exercises -as, guessing one anothers thoughts, discovering the defects of some form ofexpression, repeating long sentences or performing mental calculations. These dailylessons were intended to strengthen memory and reason, and especially to developthe critical sense, and were undoubtedly very beneficial.

My mother descended from one of the oldest families in the country and a line ofinventors. Both her father and grandfather originated numerous implements forhousehold, agricultural and other uses. She was a truly great woman,

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of rare skill, courage and fortitude, who had braved the storms of life and passedthrough many a trying experience. When she was sixteen, a virulent pestilenceswept the country. Her father was called away to administer the last sacraments tothe dying and during his absence she went alone to the assistance of a neighbouringfamily who were stricken by the dread disease. She bathed, clothed and laid out thebodies, decorating them with flowers according to the custom of the country and

when her father returned he found everything ready for a Christian burial.My mother was an inventor of the first order and would, I believe, have achievedgreat things had she not been so remote from modern life and its multifoldopportunities. She invented and constructed all kinds of tools and devices and wovethe finest designs from thread which was spun by her. She even planted seeds,raised the plants and separated the fibres herself. She worked indefatigably, frombreak of day till late at night, and most of the wearing apparel and furnishings of thehome were the product of her hands. When she was past sixty, her fingers were stillnimble enough to tie three knots in an eyelash.

There was another and still more important reason for my late awakening. In myboyhood I suffered from a peculiar affliction due to the appearance of images, oftenaccompanied by strong flashes of light, which marred the sight of real objects andinterfered with my thoughts and action. They were pictures of things and sceneswhich i had really seen, never of those imagined. When a word was spoken to methe image of the object it designated would present itself vividly to my vision andsometimes I was quite unable to distinguish weather what I saw was tangible or not.This caused me great discomfort and anxiety. None of the students of psychology orphysiology whom i have consulted, could ever explain satisfactorily thesephenomenon. They seem to have been unique although I was probably predisposedas I know that my brother experienced a similar trouble. The theory I have

formulated is that the images were the result of a reflex action from the brain on theretina under great excitation. They certainly were not hallucinations such as areproduced in diseased and anguished minds, for in other respects i was normal andcomposed. To give an idea of my distress, suppose that I had witnessed a funeral orsome such nerve-wracking spectacle. The, inevitably, in the stillness of night, avivid picture of the scene would thrust itself before my eyes and persist despite allmy efforts to banish it. If my explanation is correct, it should be possible to projecton a screen the image of any object one conceives and make it visible. Such anadvance would revolutionise all human relations. I am convinced that this wondercan and will be accomplished in time to come. I may add that I have devoted muchthought to the solution of the problem.

I have managed to reflect such a picture, which i have seen in my mind, to the mindof another person, in another room. To free myself of these tormenting appearances,I tried to concentrate my mind on something else I had seen, and in this way Iwould often obtain temporary relief; but in order to get it I had to conjurecontinuously new images. It was not long before I found that I had exhausted all ofthose at my command; my reel had run out as it were, because I had seen little ofthe world only objects in my home and the immediate surroundings. As Iperformed these mental operations for the second or third time, in order to chase theappearances from my vision, the remedy gradually lost all its force. Then Iinstinctively commenced to make excursions beyond the limits of the small world

of which I had knowledge, and I saw new scenes. These were at first very blurredand indistinct, and would flit away when I tried to concentrate my attention uponthem. They gained in strength

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and distinctness and finally assumed the concreteness of real things. I soondiscovered that my best comfort was attained if I simply went on in my visionfurther and further, getting new impressions all the time, and so I began to travel; ofcourse, in my mind. Every night, (and sometimes during the day), when alone, Iwould start on my journeys see new places, cities and countries; live there, meetpeople and make friendships and acquaintances and, however unbelievable, it is a

fact that they were just as dear to me as those in actual life, and not a bit less intensein their manifestations.

This I did constantly until I was about seventeen, when my thoughts turnedseriously to invention. Then I observed to my delight that i could visualise with thegreatest facility. I needed no models, drawings or experiments. I could picture themall as real in my mind. Thus I have been led unconsciously to evolve what Iconsider a new method of materialising inventive concepts and ideas, which isradially opposite to the purely experimental and is in my opinion ever so muchmore expeditious and efficient.

The moment one constructs a device to carry into practice a crude idea, he findshimself unavoidably engrossed with the details of the apparatus. As he goes onimproving and reconstructing, his force of concentration diminishes and he losessight of the great underlying principle. Results may be obtained, but always at thesacrifice of quality. My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When Iget an idea, I start at once building it up in my imagination. I change theconstruction, make improvements and operate the device in my mind. It isabsolutely immaterial to me whether I run my turbine in thought or test it in myshop. I even note if it is out of balance. There is no difference whatever; the resultsare the same. In this way I am able to rapidly develop and perfect a conceptionwithout touching anything. When I have gone so far as to embody in the invention

every possible improvement I can think of and see no fault anywhere, I put intoconcrete form this final product of my brain. Invariably my device works as Iconceived that it should, and the experiment comes out exactly as I planned it. Intwenty years there has not been a single exception. Why should it be otherwise?Engineering, electrical and mechanical, is positive in results. There is scarcely asubject that cannot be examined beforehand, from the available theoretical andpractical data. The carrying out into practice of a crude idea as is being generallydone, is, I hold, nothing but a waste of energy, money, and time.

My early affliction had however, another compensation. The incessant mentalexertion developed my powers of observation and enabled me to discover a truth of

great importance. I had noted that the appearance of images was always precededby actual vision of scenes under peculiar and generally very exceptional conditions,and I was impelled on each occasion to locate the original impulse. After a whilethis effort grew to be almost automatic and I gained great facility in connectingcause and effect. Soon I became aware, to my surprise, that every thought Iconceived was suggested by an external impression. Not only this but all my actionswere prompted in a similar way. In the course of time it became perfectly evident tome that I was merely an automation endowed with power OF MOVEMENTRESPONDING TO THE STIMULI OF THE SENSE ORGANS AND THINKINGAND ACTING ACCORDINGLY. The practical result of this was the art ofteleautomatics which has been so far carried out only in an imperfect manner. Its

latent possibilities will, however be eventually shown. I have been years planningself-controlled automata and believe that mechanisms can be produced which willact as if possessed of reason, to a limited degree, and will create a revolution inmany commercial and industrial departments. I was about twelve years of age whenI first succeeded in banishing an image from my vision by wilful effort, but I neverhad any control over the flashes of light to which

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I have referred. They were, perhaps, my strangest and [most] inexplicableexperience. They usually occurred when I found myself in a dangerous ordistressing situations or when i was greatly exhilarated. In some instances i haveseen all the air around me filled with tongues of living flame. Their intensity,instead of diminishing, increased with time and seemingly attained a maximumwhen I was about twenty-five years old.

While in Paris in 1883, a prominent French manufacturer sent me an invitation to ashooting expedition which I accepted. I had been long confined to the factory andthe fresh air had a wonderfully invigorating effect on me. On my return to the citythat night, I felt a positive sensation that my brain had caught fire. I was a light asthough a small sun was located in it and I passed the whole night applying coldcompressions to my tortured head. Finally the flashes diminished in frequency andforce but it took more than three weeks before they wholly subsided. When asecond invitation was extended to me, my answer was an emphatic NO!

These luminous phenomena still manifest themselves from time to time, as when a

new idea opening up possibilities strikes me, but they are no longer exciting, beingof relatively small intensity. When I close my eyes I invariably observe first, abackground of very dark and uniform blue, not unlike the sky on a clear but starlessnight. In a few seconds this field becomes animated with innumerable scintillatingflakes of green, arranged in several layers and advancing towards me. Then thereappears, to the right, a beautiful pattern of two systems of parallel and closelyspaced lines, at right angles to one another, in all sorts of colours with yellow,green, and gold predominating. Immediately thereafter, the lines grow brighter andthe whole is thickly sprinkled with dots of twinkling light. This picture movesslowly across the field of vision and in about ten seconds vanishes on the left,leaving behind a ground of rather unpleasant and inert grey until the second phase is

reached. Every time, before falling asleep, images of persons or objects flit beforemy view. When I see them I know I am about to lose consciousness. If they areabsent and refuse to come, it means a sleepless night. To what an extent imaginationplayed in my early life, I may illustrate by another odd experience.

Like most children, I was fond of jumping and developed an intense desire tosupport myself in the air. Occasionally a strong wind richly charged with oxygenblew from the mountains, rendering my body light as cork and then I would leapand float in space for a long time. It was a delightful sensation and mydisappointment was keen when later I undeceived myself. During that period Icontracted many strange likes, dislikes and habits, some of which I can trace to

external impressions while others are unaccountable. I had a violent aversionagainst the earing of women, but other ornaments, as bracelets, pleased me more orless according to design. The sight of a pearl would almost give me a fit, but I wasfascinated with the glitter of crystals or objects with sharp edges and plane surfaces.I would not touch the hair of other people except, perhaps at the point of a revolver.I would get a fever by looking at a peach and if a piece of camphor was anywhere inthe house it caused me the keenest discomfort. Even now I am not insensible tosome of these upsetting impulses. When I drop little squares of paper in a dish filledwith liquid, I always sense a peculiar and awful taste in my mouth. I counted thesteps in my walks and calculated the cubical contents of soup plates, coffee cupsand pieces of food, otherwise my meal was unenjoyable. All repeated acts or

operations I performed had to be divisible by three and if I missed I felt impelled todo it all over again, even if it took hours. Up to the age of eight years, my

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character was weak and vacillating. I had neither courage or strength to form a firmresolve. My feelings came in waves and surges and variated unceasingly betweenextremes. My wishes were of consuming force and like the heads of the hydra, theymultiplied. I was oppressed by thoughts of pain in life and death and religious fear.I was swayed by superstitious belief and lived in constant dread of the spirit of evil,of ghosts and ogres and other unholy monsters of the dark. Then all at once, there

came a tremendous change which altered the course of my whole existence.Of all things I liked books best. My father had a large library and whenever I couldmanage I tried to satisfy my passion for reading. He did not permit it and would flyin a rage when he caught me in the act. He hid the candles when he found that I wasreading in secret. He did not want me to spoil my eyes. But I obtained tallow, madethe wicking and cast the sticks into tin forms, and every night I would bush thekeyhole and the cracks and read, often till dawn, when all others slept and mymother started on her arduous daily task.

On one occasion I came across a novel entitled Aoafi, (the son of Aba), a Serbian

translation of a well known Hungarian writer, Josika. This work somehowawakened my dormant powers of will and I began to practice self-control. At firstmy resolutions faded like snow in April, but in a little while I conquered myweakness and felt a pleasure I never knew before that of doing as I willed.

In the course of time this vigorous mental exercise became second to nature. At theoutset my wishes had to be subdued but gradually desire and will grew to beidentical. After years of such discipline I gained so complete a mastery over myselfthat I toyed with passions which have meant destruction to some of the strongestmen. At a certain age I contracted a mania for gambling which greatly worried myparents. To sit down to a game of cards was for me the quintessence of pleasure.

My father led an exemplary life and could not excuse the senseless waste of mytime and money in which I indulged. I had a strong resolve, but my philosophy wasbad. I would say to him, I can stop whenever I please, but it it worth while to giveup that which I would purchase with the joys of paradise? On frequent occasionshe gave vent to his anger and contempt, but my mother was different. Sheunderstood the character of men and knew that ones salvation could only bebrought about through his own efforts. One afternoon, I remember, when I had lostall my money and was craving for a game, she came to me with a roll of bills andsaid, Go and enjoy yourself. The sooner you lose all we possess, the better it willbe. I know that you will get over it. She was right. I conquered my passion thenand there and only regretted that it had not been a hundred times as strong. I not

only vanquished but tore it from my heart so as not to leave even a trace of desire.Ever since that time I have been as indifferent to any form of gambling as to pickingteeth. During another period I smoked excessively, threatening to ruin my health.Then my will asserted itself and I not only stopped but destroyed all inclination.Long ago I suffered from heart trouble until I discovered that it was due to theinnocent cup of coffee I consumed every morning. I discontinued at once, though Iconfess it was not an easy task. In this way I checked and bridled other habits andpassions, and have not only preserved my life but derived an immense amount ofsatisfaction from what most men would consider privation and sacrifice.

After finishing the studies at the Polytechnic Institute and University, I had acomplete nervous breakdown and while the malady lasted I observed manyphenomena, strange and unbelievable...

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Chapter 2I shall dwell briefly on these extraordinary experiences, on account of their possibleinterest to students of psychology and physiology and also because this period ofagony was of the greatest consequence on my mental development and subsequentlabours. But it is indispensable to first relate the circumstances and conditions

which preceded them and in which might be found their partial explanation.

From childhood I was compelled to concentrate attention upon myself. This causedme much suffering, but to my present view, it was a blessing in disguise for it hastaught me to appreciate the inestimable value of introspection in the preservation oflife, as well as a means of achievement. The pressure of occupation and theincessant stream of impressions pouring into our consciousness through all thegateways of knowledge make modern existence hazardous in many ways. Mostpersons are so absorbed in the contemplation of the outside world that they arewholly oblivious to what is passing on within themselves. The premature death ofmillions is primarily traceable to this cause. Even among those who exercise care, it

is a common mistake to avoid imaginary, and ignore the real dangers. And what istrue of an individual also applies, more or less, to a people as a whole.

Abstinence was not always to my liking, but I find ample reward in the agreeableexperiences I am now making. Just in the hope of converting some to my preceptsand convictions I will recall one or two.

A short time ago I was returning to my hotel. It was a bitter cold night, the groundslippery, and no taxi to be had. Half a block behind me followed another man,evidently as anxious as myself to get under cover. Suddenly my legs went up in theair. At the same instant there was a flash in my brain. The nerves responded, the

muscles contracted. I swung 180 degrees and landed on my hands. I resumed mywalk as though nothing had happened when the stranger caught up with me. Howold are you? he asked, surveying me critically.

Oh, about fifty-nine, I replied, What of it?

Well, said he, I have seen a cat do this but never a man. About a month ago Iwanted to order new eye glasses and went to an oculist who put me through theusual tests. He looked at me incredulously as I read off with ease the smallest printat considerable distance. But when I told him I was past sixty he gasped inastonishment. Friends of mine often remark that my suits fit me like gloves but they

do not know that all my clothing is made to measurements which were taken nearlyfifteen years ago and never changed. During this same period my weight has notvaried one pound. In this connection I may tell a funny story.

One evening, in the winter of 1885, Mr. Edison, Edward H. Johnson, the Presidentof the Edison Illuminating Company, Mr. Batchellor, Manager of the works, andmyself, entered a little place opposite 65 Firth Avenue, where the offices of thecompany were located. Someone suggested guessing weights and I was induced tostep on a scale. Edison felt me all over and said: Tesla weighs 152 lbs. to anounce, and he guessed it exactly. Stripped I weighed 142 pounds, and that is stillmy weight. I whispered to Mr. Johnson; How is it possible that Edison could guessmy weight so closely?

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Well, he said, lowering his voice. I will tell you confidentially, but you must notsay anything. He was employed for a long time in a Chicago slaughter-house wherehe weighed thousands of hogs every day. Thats why.

My friend, the Hon. Chauncey M. Dupew, tells of an Englishman on whom hesprung one of his original anecdotes and who listened with a puzzled expression,

but a year later, laughed out loud. I will frankly confess it took me longer than thatto appreciate Johnsons joke. Now, my well-being is simply the result of a carefuland measured mode of living and perhaps the most astonishing thing is that threetimes in my youth I was rendered by illness a hopeless physical wreck and given upby physicians. MORE than this, through ignorance and lightheartedness, I got intoall sorts of difficulties, dangers and scrapes from which I extricated myself as byenchantment. I was almost drowned, entombed, lost and frozen. I had hair-breadthescapes from mad dogs, hogs, and other wild animals. I passed through dreadfuldiseases and met with all kinds of odd mishaps and that I am whole and heartytoday seems like a miracle. But as I recall these incidents to my mind I feelconvinced that my preservation was not altogether accidental, but was indeed the

work of divine power. An inventors endeavour is essentially life saving. Whetherhe harnesses forces, improves devices, or provides new comforts and conveniences,he is adding to the safety of our existence. He is also better qualified than theaverage individual to protect himself in peril, for he is observant and resourceful. IfI had no other evidence that I was, in a measure, possessed of such qualities, Iwould find it in these personal experiences. The reader will be able to judge forhimself if I mention one or two instances.

On one occasion, when about fourteen years old, I wanted to scare some friendswho were bathing with me. My plan was to dive under a long floating structure andslip out quietly at the other end. Swimming and diving came to me as naturally as to

a duck and I was confident that I could perform the feat. Accordingly I plunged intothe water and, when out of view, turned around and proceeded rapidly towards theopposite side. Thinking that I was safely beyond the structure, I rose to the surfacebut to my dismay struck a beam. Of course, I quickly dived and forged ahead withrapid strokes until my breath was beginning to give out. Rising for the second time,my head came again in contact with a beam. Now I was becoming desperate.However, summoning all my energy, I made a third frantic attempt but the resultwas the same. The torture of suppressed breathing was getting unendurable, mybrain was reeling and I felt myself sinking. At that moment, when my situationseemed absolutely hopeless, I experienced one of those flashes of light and thestructure above me appeared before my vision. I either discerned or guessed that

there was a little space between the surface of the water and the boards resting onthe beams and, with consciousness nearly gone, I floated up, pressed my mouthclose to the planks and managed to inhale a little air, unfortunately mingled with aspray of water which nearly choked me. Several times I repeated this procedure asin a dream until my heart, which was racing at a terrible rate, quieted down, and Igained composure. After that I made a number of unsuccessful dives, havingcompletely lost the sense of direction, but finally succeeded in getting out of thetrap when my friends had already given me up and were fishing for my body. Thatbathing season was spoiled for me through recklessness but I soon forgot the lessonand only two years later I fell into a worse predicament.

There was a large flour mill with a dam across the river near the city where I wasstudying at the time. As a rule the height of the water was only two or three inchesabove the dam and to swim to it was a sport not very dangerous in which I oftenindulged. One day I went alone to the river to enjoy

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myself as usual. When I was a short distance from the masonry, however, I washorrified to observe that the water had risen and was carrying me along swiftly. Itried to get away but it was too late. Luckily, though, I saved myself from beingswept over by taking hold of the wall with both hands. The pressure against mychest was great and I was barely able to keep my head above the surface. Not a soulwas in sight and my voice was lost in the roar of the fall. Slowly and gradually I

became exhausted and unable to withstand the strain longer. Just as I was about tolet go, to be dashed against the rocks below, I saw in a flash of light a familiardiagram illustrating the hydraulic principle that the pressure of a fluid in motion isproportionate to the area exposed and automatically I turned on my left side. As ifby magic, the pressure was reduced and I found it comparatively easy in thatposition to resist the force of the stream. But the danger still confronted me. I knewthat sooner or later I would be carried down, as it was not possible for any help toreach me in time, even if I had attracted attention. I am ambidextrous now, but thenI was left-handed and had comparatively little strength in my right arm. For thisreason I did not dare to turn on the other side to rest and nothing remained but toslowly push my body along the dam. I had to get away from the mill towards which

my face was turned, as the current there was much swifter and deeper. It was a longand painful ordeal and I came near to failing at its very end, for I was confrontedwith a depression in the masonry. I managed to get over with the last ounce of mystrength and fell in a swoon when I reached the bank, where I was found. I had tornvirtually all the skin from my left side and it took several weeks before the feverhad subsided and I was well. These are only two of many instanced, but they maybe sufficient to show that had it not been for the inventors instinct, I would nothave lived to tell the tale.

Interested people have often asked me how and when I began to invent. This I canonly answer from my present recollection in the light of which, the first attempt I

recall was rather ambitious for it involved the invention of an apparatus and amethod. In the former I was anticipated, but the later was original. It happened inthis way. One of my playmates had come into the possession of a hook and fishingtackle which created quite an excitement in the village, and the next morning allstarted out to catch frogs. I was left alone and deserted owing to a quarrel with thisboy. I had never seen a real hook and pictured it as something wonderful, endowedwith peculiar qualities, and was despairing not to be one of the party. Urged bynecessity, I somehow got hold of a piece of soft iron wire, hammered the end to asharp point between two stones, bent it into shape, and fastened it to a strong string.I then cut a rod, gathered some bait, and went down to the brook where there werefrogs in abundance. But I could not catch any and was almost discouraged when it

occurred to me dangle the empty hook in front of a frog sitting on a stump. At firsthe collapsed but by and by his eyes bulged out and became bloodshot, he swelled totwice his normal size and made a vicious snap at the hook. Immediately I pulledhim up. I tried the same thing again and again and the method proved infallible.When my comrades, who in spite of their fine outfit had caught nothing, came tome, they were green with envy. For a long time I kept my secret and enjoyed themonopoly but finally yielded to the spirit of Christmas. Every boy could then do thesame and the following summer brought disaster to the frogs.

In my next attempt, I seem to have acted under the first instinctive impulse whichlater dominated me, to harness the energies of nature to the service of man. I did

this through the medium of May bugs, or June bugs as they are called in America,which were a veritable pest in that country and sometimes broke the branches oftrees by the sheer weight of their bodies. The

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bushes were black with them. I would attach as many as four of them to a cross-piece, rotably arranged on a thin spindle, and transmit the motion of the same to alarge disc and so derive considerable power. These creatures were remarkablyefficient, for once they were started, they had no sense to stop and continuedwhirling for hours and hours and the hotter it was, the harder they worked. All wentwell until a strange boy came to the place. He was the son of a retired officer in the

Austrian army. That urchin ate May-bugs alive and enjoyed them as though theywere the finest blue-point oysters. That disgusting sight terminated my endeavoursin this promising field and I have never since been able to touch a May-bug or anyother insect for that matter.

After that, I believe, I undertook to take apart and assemble the clocks of mygrandfather. In the former operation I was always successful, but often failed in thelatter. So it came that he brought my work to a sudden halt in a manner not toodelicate and it took thirty years before I tackled another clockwork again.

Shortly thereafter, I went into the manufacture of a kind of pop-gun which

comprised a hollow tube, a piston, and two plugs of hemp. When firing the gun, thepiston was pressed against the stomach and the tube was pushed back quickly withboth hands. the air between the plugs was compressed and raised to a hightemperature and one of them was expelled with a loud report. The art consisted inselecting a tube of the proper taper from the hollow stalks which were found in ourgarden. I did very well with that gun, but my activities interfered with the windowpanes in our house and met with painful discouragement.

If I remember rightly, I then took to carving swords from pieces of furniture which Icould conveniently obtain. At that time I was under the sway of the Serbian nationalpoetry and full of admiration for the feats of the heroes. I used to spend hours in

mowing down my enemies in the form of corn-stalks which ruined the crops andnetted me several spankings from my mother. Moreover, these were not of theformal kind but the genuine article.

I had all this and more behind me before I was six years old and had passed throughone year of elementary school in the village of Smiljan where my family lived. Atthis juncture we moved to the little city of Gospic nearby. This change of residencewas like a calamity to me. It almost broke my heart to part from our pigeons,chickens and sheep, and our magnificent flock of geese which used to rise to theclouds in the morning and return from the feeding grounds at sundown in battleformation, so perfect that it would have put a squadron of the best aviators of the

present day to shame. In our new house I was but a prisoner, watching the strangepeople I saw through my window blinds. My bashfulness was such that I wouldrather have faced a roaring lion than one of the city dudes who strolled about. Butmy hardest trial came on Sunday when I had to dress up and attend the service.There I met with an accident, the mere thought of which made my blood curdle likesour milk for years afterwards. It was my second adventure in a church. Not longbefore, I was entombed for a night in an old chapel on an inaccessible mountainwhich was visited only once a year. It was an awful experience, but this one wasworse.

There was a wealthy lady in town, a good but pompous woman, who used to come

to the church gorgeously painted up and attired with an enormous train andattendants. One Sunday I had just finished ringing the bell in the belfry and rusheddownstairs, when this grand dame was sweeping out and I jumped on her train. Ittore off with a ripping noise which sounded like a salvo of musketry

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fired by raw recruits. My father was livid with rage. He gave me a gentle slap on thecheek, the only corporal punishment he ever administered to me, but I almost feel itnow. The embarrassment and confusion that followed are indescribably. I waspractically ostracised until something else happened which redeemed me in theestimation of the community.

An enterprising young merchant had organised a fire department. A new fire enginewas purchased, uniforms provided and the men drilled for service and parade. Theengine was beautifully painted red and black. One afternoon, the official trial wasprepared for and the machine was transported to the river. The entire populationturned out to witness the great spectacle. When all the speeches and ceremonieswere concluded, the command was given to pump, but not a drop of water camefrom the nozzle. The professors and experts tried in vain to locate the trouble. Thefizzle was complete when I arrived at the scene. My knowledge of of themechanism was nil and I knew next to nothing of air pressure, but instinctively I feltfor the suction hose in the water and found that it had collapsed. When I waded inthe river and opened it up, the water rushed forth and not a few Sunday clothes were

spoiled. Archimedes running naked through the streets of Syracuse and shoutingEureka at the top of his voice did not make a greater impression than myself. I wascarried on the shoulders and was hero of the day.

Upon settling in the city I began a four years course in the so-called Normal Schoolpreparatory to my studies at the College or Real-Gymnasium. During this period myboyish efforts and exploits as well as troubles, continued.

Among other things, I attained the unique distinction of champion crow catcher inthe country. My method of procedure was extremely simple. I would go into theforest, hide in the bushes, and imitate the call of the birds. Usually I would get

several answers and in a short while a crow would flutter down into the shrubberynear me. After that, all I needed to do was to throw a piece of cardboard to detractits attention, jump up and grab it before it could extricate itself from theundergrowth. In this way I would capture as many as I desired. But on one occasionsomething occurred which made me respect them. I had caught a fine pair of birdsand was returning home with a friend. When we left the forest, thousands of crowshad gathered making a frightful racket. In a few minutes they rose in pursuit andsoon enveloped us. The fun lasted until all of a sudden I received a blow on theback of my head which knocked me down. Then they attacked me viciously. I wascompelled to release the two birds and was glad to join my friend who had takenrefuge in a cave.

In the school room there were a few mechanical models which interested me andturned my attention to water turbines. I constructed many of these and found greatpleasure in operating them. How extraordinary was my life an incident mayillustrate. My uncle had no use for this kind of pastime and more than once rebukedme. I was fascinated by a description of Niagara Falls I had perused, and pictured inmy imagination a big wheel run by the falls. I told my uncle that I would go toAmerica and carry out this scheme. Thirty years later I was my ideas carried out atNiagara and marvelled at the unfathomable mystery of the mind.

I made all kinds of other contrivances and contraptions but among those, the

arbalests I produced were the best. My arrows, when short, disappeared from sightand at close range traversed a plank of pine one inch thick. Through the continuoustightening of the bows I developed a skin on my stomach much like that of acrocodile and I am often wondering whether it is due to this exercise

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that I am able even now to digest cobble-stones! Nor can I pass in silence myperformances with the sling which would have enabled me to give a stunningexhibit at the Hippodrome. And now I will tell of one of my feats with this uniqueimplement of war which will strain to the utmost the credulity of the reader.

I was practising while walking with my uncle along the river. The sun was setting,

the trout were playful and from time to time one would shoot up into the air, itsglistening body sharply defined against a projecting rock beyond. Of course any boymight have hit a fish under these propitious conditions but I undertook a much moredifficult task and I foretold to my uncle, to the minutest detail, what I intendeddoing. I was to hurl a stone to meet the fish, press its body against the rock, and cutit in two. It was no sooner said than done. My uncle looked at me almost scared outof his wits and exclaimed Vade retra Satanae! and it was a few days before hespoke to me again. Other records, however great, will be eclipsed but I feel that Icould peacefully rest on my laurels for a thousand years.

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Chapter 3How Tesla ConceivedThe Rotary Magnetic FieldAt the age of ten I entered the Real gymnasium which was a new and fairly wellequipped institution. In the department of physics were various models of classicalscientific apparatus, electrical and mechanical. The demonstrations and experimentsperformed from time to time by the instructors fascinated me and were undoubtedlya powerful incentive to invention. I was also passionately fond of mathematicalstudies and often won the professors praise for rapid calculation. This was due tomy acquired facility of visualising the figures and performing the operation, not inthe usual intuitive manner, but as in actual life. Up to a certain degree of complexityit was absolutely the same to me whether I wrote the symbols on the board orconjured them before my mental vision. But freehand drawing, to which manyhours of the course were devoted, was an annoyance I could not endure. This was

rather remarkable as most of the members of the family excelled in it. Perhaps myaversion was simply due to the predilection I found in undisturbed thought. Had itnot been for a few exceptionally stupid boys, who could not do anything at all, myrecord would have been the worst.

It was a serious handicap as under the then existing educational regime drawingbeing obligatory, this deficiency threatened to spoil my whole career and my fatherhad considerable trouble in rail-roading me from one class to another.

In the second year at that institution I became obsessed with the idea of producingcontinuous motion through steady air pressure. The pump incident, of which I have

been told, had set afire my youthful imagination and impressed me with theboundless possibilities of a vacuum. I grew frantic in my desire to harness thisinexhaustible energy but for a long time I was groping in the dark. Finally,however, my endeavours crystallised in an invention which was to enable me toachieve what no other mortal ever attempted. Imagine a cylinder freely rotatable ontwo bearings and partly surrounded by a rectangular trough which fits it perfectly.The open side of the trough is enclosed by a partition so that the cylindrical segmentwithin the enclosure divides the latter into two compartments entirely separatedfrom each other by air-tight sliding joints. One of these compartments being sealedand once for all exhausted, the other remaining open, a perpetual rotation of thecylinder would result. At least, so I thought.

A wooden model was constructed and fitted with infinite care and when I appliedthe pump on one side and actual observed that there was a tendency to turning, Iwas delirious with joy. Mechanical flight was the one thing I wanted to accomplishalthough still under the discouraging recollection of a bad fall I sustained by

jumping with an umbrella from the top of a building. Every day I used to transportmyself through the air to distant regions but could not understand just how Imanaged to do it. Now I had something concrete, a flying machine with nothingmore than a rotating shaft, flapping wings, and; - a vacuum of unlimited power!From that time on I made my daily aerial excursions in a vehicle of comfort andluxury as might have befitted King Solomon. It took years before I understood thatthe atmospheric pressure acted at right angles to the surface of the cylinder and thatthe slight rotary effort I observed was due to a leak! Though this knowledge camegradually it gave me a painful shock.

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I had hardly completed my course at the Real Gymnasium when I was prostratedwith a dangerous illness or rather, a score of them, and my condition became sodesperate that I was given up by physicians. During this period I was permitted toread constantly, obtaining books from the Public Library which had been neglectedand entrusted to me for classification of the works and preparation of catalogues.

One day I was handed a few volumes of new literature unlike anything I had everread before and so captivating as to make me utterly forget me hopeless state. Theywere the earlier works of Mark Twain and to them might have been due themiraculous recovery which followed. Twenty-five years later, when I met Mr.Clements and we formed a friendship between us, I told him of the experience andwas amazed to see that great man of laughter burst into tears...

My studies were continued at the higher Real Gymnasium in Carlstadt, Croatia,where one of my aunts resided. She was a distinguished lady, the wife of a Colonelwho was an old war-horse having participated in many battles, I can never forgetthe three years I passed at their home. No fortress in time of war was under a more

rigid discipline. I was fed like a canary bird. All the meals were of the highestquality and deliciously prepared, but short in quantity by a thousand percent. Theslices of ham cut by my aunt were like tissue paper. When the Colonel would putsomething substantial on my plate she would snatch it away and say excitedly tohim; Be careful. Niko is very delicate.

I had a voracious appetite and suffered like Tantalus.

But I lived in an atmosphere of refinement and artistic taste quite unusual for thosetimes and conditions. The land was low and marshy and malaria fever never left mewhile there despite the enormous amounts of qunine I consumed. Occasionally the

river would rise and drive an army of rats into the buildings, devouring everything,even to the bundles of fierce paprika. These pests were to me a welcome diversion. Ithinned their ranks by all sorts of means, which won me the unenviable distinctionof rat-catcher in the community. At last, however, my course was completed, themisery ended, and I obtained the certificate of maturity which brought me to thecross-roads.

During all those years my parents never wavered in their resolve to make meembrace the clergy, the mere thought of which filled me with dread. I had becomeintensely interested in electricity under the stimulating influence of my Professor ofPhysics, who was an ingenious man and often demonstrated the principles by

apparatus of his own invention. Among these I recall a device in the shape of afreely rotatable bulb, with tinfoil coating, which was made to spin rapidly whenconnected to a static machine. It is impossible for me to convey an adequate idea ofthe intensity of feeling I experienced in witnessing his exhibitions of thesemysterious phenomena. Every impression produced a thousand echoes in my mind.I wanted to know more of this wonderful force; I longed for experiment andinvestigation and resigned myself to the inevitable with aching heart. Just as I wasmaking ready for the long journey home I received word that my father wished meto go on a shooting expedition. It was a strange request as he had been alwaysstrenuously opposed to this kind of sport. But a few days later I learned that thecholera was raging in that district and, taking advantage of an opportunity, I

returned to Gospic in disregard to my parents wishes. It is incredible howabsolutely ignorant people were as to the causes of this scourge which visited thecountry in intervals of fifteen to twenty years. They thought that the deadly agentswere transmitted through the air and filled it with pungent odours and smoke. In themeantime they drank infested water and died in heaps. I contracted the dreadful

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disease on the very day of my arrival and although surviving the crisis, I wasconfined to bed for nine months with scarcely any ability to move. My energy wascompletely exhausted and for the second time I found myself at Deaths door.

In one of the sinking spells which was thought to be the last, my father rushed intothe room. I still see his pallid face as he tried to cheer me in tones belying his

assurance. Perhaps, I said, I may get well if you will let me study engineering.You will go to the best technical institution in the world, he solemnly replied, andI knew that he meant it. A heavy weight was lifted from my mind but the reliefwould have come too late had it not been for a marvellous cure brought through abitter decoction of a peculiar bean. I came to life like Lazarus to the utteramazement of everybody.

My father insisted that I spend a year in healthful physical outdoor exercise towhich I reluctantly consented. For most of this term I roamed in the mountains,loaded with a hunters outfit and a bundle of books, and this contact with naturemade me stronger in body as well as in mind. I thought and planned, and conceived

many ideas almost as a rule delusive. The vision was clear enough but theknowledge of principles was very limited.

In one of my invention I proposed to convey letters and packages across the seas,through a submarine tube, in spherical containers of sufficient strength to resist thehydraulic pressure. The pumping plant, intended to force the water through the tube,was accurately figured and designed and all other particulars carefully worked out.Only one trifling detail, of no consequence, was lightly dismissed. I assumed anarbitrary velocity of the water and, what is more, took pleasure in making it high,thus arriving at a stupendous performance supported by faultless calculations.Subsequent reflections, however, on the resistance of pipes to fluid flow induced me

to make this invention public property.Another one of my projects was to construct a ring around the equator which would,of course, float freely and could be arrested in its spinning motion by reactionaryforces, thus enabling travel at a rate of about one thousand miles an hour,impracticable by rail. The reader will smile. The plan was difficult of execution, Iwill admit, but not nearly so bad as that of a well known New York professor, whowanted to pump the air from the torrid to temperate zones, entirely forgetful of thefact that the Lord had provided a gigantic machine for this purpose.

Still another scheme, far more important and attractive, was to derive power from

the rotational energy of terrestrial bodies. I had discovered that objects on theearths surface owing to the diurnal rotation of the globe, are carried by the samealternately in and against the direction of translatory movement. From this results agreat change in momentum which could be utilised in the simplest imaginablemanner to furnish motive effort in any habitable region of the world. I cannot findwords to describe my disappointment when later I realised that I was in thepredicament of Archimedes, who vainly sought for a fixed point in the universe.

At the termination of my vacation I was sent to the Poly-Technic School in Gratz,Styria (Austria), which my father had chosen as one of the oldest and best reputedinstitutions. That was the moment I had eagerly awaited and I began my studies

under good auspices and firmly resolved to succeed. My previous training wasabove average, due to my fathers teaching and opportunities afforded. I hadacquired the knowledge of a number of languages and waded through the books ofseveral libraries, picking up information more or

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less useful. Then again, for the first time, I could choose my subjects as I liked, andfree-hand drawing was to bother me no more.

I had made up my mind to give my parents a surprise, and during the whole firstyear I regularly started my work at three oclock in the morning and continued untileleven at night, no Sundays or holidays excepted. As most of my fellow-students

took things easily, naturally I eclipsed all records. In the course of the year I passedthrough nine exams and the professors thought I deserved more than the highestqualifications. Armed with their flattering certificated, I went home for a short rest,expecting triumph, and was mortified when my father made light of these hard-wonhonours.

That almost killed my ambition; but later, after he had died, I was pained to find apackage of letters which the professors had written to him to the effect that unlesshe took me away from the Institution I would be killed through overwork.Thereafter I devoted myself chiefly to physics, mechanics and mathematical studies,spending the hours of leisure in the libraries.

I had a veritable mania for finishing whatever I began, which often got me intodifficulties. On one occasion I started to read the works of Voltaire, when I learned,to my dismay that there were close to one hundred large volumes in small printwhich that monster had written while drinking seventy-two cups of black coffee perdiem. It had to be done, but when I laid aside that last book I was very glad, andsaid, Never more!

My first years showing had won me the appreciation and friendship of severalprofessors. Among these, Professor Rogner, who was teaching arithmetical subjectsand geometry; Professor Poeschl, who held the chair of theoretical and experimental

physics, and Dr. Alle, who taught integral calculus and specialised in differentialequations. This scientist was the most brilliant lecturer to whom I ever listened. Hetook a special interest in my progress and would frequently remain for an hour ortwo in the lecture room, giving me problems to solve, in which I delighted. To him Iexplained a flying machine I had conceived, not an illusory invention, but one basedon sound, scientific principles, which has become realisable through my turbine andwill soon be given to the world. Both Professors Rogner and Poeschl were curiousmen. The former had peculiar ways of expressing himself and whenever he did so,there was a riot, followed by a long embarrassing pause. Professor Poeschl was amethodical and thoroughly grounded German. He had enormous feet, and handslike the paws of a bear, but all of his experiments were skilfully performed with

clock-like precision and without a miss. It was in the second year of my studies thatwe received a Gramoe Dyname from Paris, having the horseshoe form of alaminated field magnet, and a wire wound armature with a commutator. It wasconnected up and various effects of the currents were shown. While ProfessorPoeschl was making demonstrations, running the machine was a motor, the brushesgave trouble, sparking badly, and I observed that it might be possible to operate amotor without these appliances. But he declared that it could not be done and didme the honour of delivering a lecture on the subject, at the conclusion he remarked,Mr. Tesla may accomplish great things, but he certainly will never do this. Itwould be equivalent to converting a steadily pulling force, like that of gravity into arotary effort. It is a perpetual motion scheme, an impossible idea. But instinct is

something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly, certain finer fibresthat enable us to perceive truths when logical deduction, or any other wilful effortof the brain, is futile.

For a time I wavered, impressed by the professors authority, but soon

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became convinced I was right and undertook the task with all the fire and boundlessconfidence of my youth. I started by first picturing in my mind a direct-currentmachine, running it and following the changing flow of the currents in the armature.Then I would imagine an alternator and investigate the progresses taking place in asimilar manner. Next I would visualise systems comprising motors and generatorsand operate them in various ways.

The images I saw were to me perfectly real and tangible. All my remaining term inGratz was passed in intense but fruitless efforts of this kind, and I almost came tothe conclusion that the problem was insolvable.

In 1880 I went to Prague, Bohemia, carrying out my fathers wish to complete myeducation at the University there. It was in that city that I made a decided advance,which consisted in detaching the commutator from the machine and studying thephenomena in this new aspect, but still without result. In the year following therewas a sudden change in my views of life.

I realised that my parents had been making too great sacrifices on my account andresolved to relieve them of the burden. The wave of the American telephone hadjust reached the European continent and the system was to be installed in Budapest,Hungary. It appeared an ideal opportunity, all the more as a friend of our familywas at the head of the enterprise.

It was here that I suffered the complete breakdown of the nerves to which I havereferred. What I experienced during the period of the illness surpasses all belief. Mysight and hearing were always extraordinary. I could clearly discern objects in thedistance when others saw no trace of them. Several times in my boyhood I saved thehouses of our neighbours from fire by hearing the faint crackling sounds which did

not disturb their sleep, and calling for help. In 1899, when I was past forty andcarrying on my experiments in Colorado, I could hear very distinctly thunderclapsat a distance of 550 miles. My ear was thus over thirteen times more sensitive, yet atthat time I was, so to speak, stone deaf in comparison with the acuteness of myhearing while under the nervous strain.

In Budapest I could hear the ticking of a watch with three rooms between me andthe time-piece. A fly alighting on a table in the room would cause a dull thud in myear. A carriage passing at a distance of a few miles fairly shook my whole body.The whistle of a locomotive twenty or thirty miles away made the bench or chair onwhich I sat, vibrate so strongly that the pain was unbearable. The ground under my

feet trembled continuously. I had to support my bed on rubber cushions to get anyrest at all. The roaring noises from near and far often produced the effect of spokenwords which would have frightened me had I not been able to resolve them intotheir accumulated components. The sun rays, when periodically intercepted, wouldcause blows of such force on my brain that they would stun me. I had to summon allmy will power to pass under a bridge or other structure, as I experienced thecrushing pressure on the skull. In the dark I had the sense of a bat, and could detectthe presence of an object at a distance of twelve feet by a peculiar creepy sensationon the forehead. My pulse varied from a few to two hundred and sixty beats and allthe tissues of my body with twitchings and tremors, which was perhaps hardest tobear. A renowned physician who have me daily large doses of Bromide of

Potassium, pronounced my malady unique and incurable.It is my eternal regret that I was not under the observation of experts in physiologyand psychology at that time. I clung desperately to life, but

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never expected to recover. Can anyone believe that so hopeless a physical wreckcould ever be transformed into a man of astonishing strength and tenacity; able towork thirty-eight years almost without a days interruption, and find himself stillstrong and fresh in body and mind? Such is my case. A powerful desire to live andto continue the work and the assistance of a devoted friend, an athlete,accomplished the wonder. My health returned and with it the vigour of mind.

In attacking the problem again, I almost regretted that the struggle was soon to end.I had so much energy to spare. When I understood the task, it was not with a resolvesuch as men often make. With me it was a sacred vow, a question of life and death.I knew that I would perish if I failed. Now I felt that the battle was won. Back in thedeep recesses of the brain was the solution, but I could net yet give it outwardexpression.

One afternoon, which is ever present in my recollection, I was enjoying a walk withmy friend in the City Park and reciting poetry. At that age, I knew entire books byheart, word for word. One of these was Goethes Faust. The sun was just setting

and reminded me of the glorious passage, Sie ruckt und weicht, der Tag istuberlebt, Dort eilt sie hin und fordert neues Leben. Oh, da kein Flugel mich vomBoden hebt Ihr nach und immer nach zu streben! Ein schner Traum indessen sieentweicht, Ach, au des Geistes Flgein wird so leicht Kein korperlicher Flugel sichgesellen! As I uttered these inspiring words the idea came like a flash of lighteningand in an instant the truth was revealed. I drew with a stick on the sand, the diagramshown six years later in my address before the American Institute of ElectricalEngineers, and my companion understood them perfectly. The images I saw werewonderfully sharp and clear and had the solidity of metal and stone, so much so thatI told him, See my motor here; watch me reverse it. I cannot begin to describe myemotions. Pygmalion seeing his statue come to life could not have been more

deeply moved. A thousand secrets of nature which I might have stumbled uponaccidentally, I would have given for that one which I had wrested from her againstall odds and at the peril of my existence...

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Chapter 4The Discovery of theTesla Coil and Transformer(The Basic Part of Every Radio and T.V.)

For a while I gave myself up entirely to the intense enjoyment of picturingmachines and devising new forms. It was a mental state of happiness about ascomplete as I have ever known in life. Ideas came in an uninterrupted stream andthe only difficulty I had was to hold them fast. The pieces of apparatus I conceivedwere to me absolutely real and tangible in every detail, even to the minutest marksand signs of wear. I delighted in imagining the motors constantly running, for in thisway they presented to the minds eye a fascinating sight. When natural inclinationdevelops into a passionate desire, one advances towards his goal in seven-leagueboots. In less than two months I evolved virtually all the types of motors and

modifications of the system which are now identified with my name, and which areused under many other names all over the world. It was, perhaps, providential thatthe necessities of existence commanded a temporary halt to this consuming activityof the mind.

I came to Budapest prompted by a premature report concerning the telephoneenterprise and, as irony of fate willed it, I had to accept a position as draughtsman inthe Central Telegraph Office of the Hungarian Government at a salary which I deemit my privilege not to disclose. Fortunately, I soon won the interest of the Inspector-in-Chief and was thereafter employed on calculations, designs and estimates inconnection with new installations, until the Telephone exchange started, when I

took charge of the same. The knowledge and practical experience I gained in thecourse of this work, was most valuable and the employment gave me ampleopportunities for the exercise of my inventive faculties. I made severalimprovements in the Central Station apparatus and perfected a telephone repeater oramplifier which was never patented or publicly described but would be creditable tome even today. In recognition of my efficient assistance the organiser of theundertaking, Mr. Puskas, upon disposing of his business in Budapest, offered me aposition in Paris which I gladly accepted.

I never can forget the deep impression that magic city produced on my mind. Forseveral days after my arrival, I roamed through the streets in utter bewilderment of

the new spectacle. The attractions were many and irresistible, but, alas, the incomewas spent as soon as received. When Mr. Puskas asked me how I was getting alongin the new sphere, I described the situation accurately in the statement that The lasttwenty-nine days of the month are the toughest. I led a rather strenuous life in whatwould now be termed Rooseveltian fashion. Every morning, regardless of theweather, I would go from the Boulevard St. Marcel, where I resided, to a bathinghouse on the Seine; plunge into the water, loop the circuit twenty-seven times andthen walk an hour to reach Ivry, where the Companys factory was located. There Iwould have a wood-choppers breakfast at half-past seven oclock and then eagerlyawait the lunch hour, in the meanwhile cracking hard nuts for the Manager of theWorks, Mr. Charles Batchellor, who was an intimate friend and assistant of Edison.Here I was thrown in contact with a few Americans who fairly fell in love with mybecause of my proficiency in Billiards! To these men I explained my invention andone of them, Mr. D. Cunningham, foreman of

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the Mechanical Department, offered to form a stock company. The proposal seemedto me comical in the extreme. I did not have the faintest conception of what hemeant, except that it was an American way of doing things. Nothing came of it,however, and during the next few months I had to travel from one place to anotherin France and Germany to cure the ills of the power plants.

On my return to Paris, I submitted to one of the administrators of the Company, Mr.Rau, a plan for improving their dynamos and was given an opportunity. My successwas complete and the delighted directors accorded me the privilege of developingautomatic regulators which were much desired. Shortly after, there was sometrouble with the lighting plant which had been installed at the new railroad station inStraburg, Alsace. The wiring was defective and on the occasion of the openingceremonies, a large part of a wall was blown out through a short-circiut, right in thepresence of old Emperor William I. The German Government refused to take theplant and the French Company was facing a serious loss. On account of myknowledge of the German language and past experience, I was entrusted with thedifficult task of straightening out matters and early in 1883, I went to Straburg on

that mission.Some of the incidents in that city have left an indelible record on my memory. By acurious coincidence, a number of the men who subsequently achieve fame, livedthere about that time. In later life I used to say, There were bacteria of greatness inthat old town. Others caught the disease, but I escaped! The practical work,correspondence, and conferences with officials kept me preoccupied day and night,but as soon as I was able to manage, I undertook the construction of a simple motorin a mechanical shop opposite the rail-road station, having brought with me fromParis some material for that purpose. The consummation of the experiment was,however, delayed until the summer of that year, when I finally had the satisfaction

of seeing the rotation effected by alternating currents of different phase, and withoutsliding contacts or commutator, as I had conceived a year before. It was an exquisitepleasure but not to compare with the delirium of joy following the first revelation.

Among my new friends was the former Mayor of the city, Mr. Sauzin, whom I hadalready, in a measure, acquainted with this and other inventions of mine and whosesupport I endeavoured to enlist. He was sincerely devoted to me and put my projectbefore several wealthy persons, but to my mortification, found no response. Hewanted to help me in every possible way and the approach of the first of July, 1917,happens to remind me of a form of assistance I received from that charming man,which was not financial, but none the less appreciated. In 1870, when the Germans

invaded the country, Mr. Sauzin had buried a good sized allotment of St. Estephe of1801 and he came to the conclusion that he knew no worthier person than myself, toconsume that precious beverage. This, I may say, is one of the unforgettableincidents to which I have referred. My friend urged me to return to Paris as soon aspossible and seek support there. This I was anxious to do, but my work andnegotiations were protracted, owing to all sorts of petty obstacles I encountered, sothat at times the situation seemed hopeless. Just to give an idea of Germanthoroughness and efficiency, I may mention here a rather funny experience.

An incandescent lamp of 16 c.p. was to be placed in a hallway, and upon selectedthe proper location, I ordered the monteur to run the wires. After working for a

while, he concluded that the engineer had to be consulted and this was done. Thelatter made several objections but ultimately agreed that the lamp should be placedtwo inches from the spot I had assigned, whereupon the work proceeded. Then theengineer became worried and told me that Inspector Averdeck should be notified.That important person was called,

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he investigated, debated, and decided that the lamp should be shifted back twoinches, which was the placed I had marked! It was not long, however, beforeAverdeck got cold feet himself and advised me that he had informed Ober-InspectorHieronimus of the matter and that I should await his decision. It was several daysbefore the Ober-Inspector was able to free himself of other pressing duties, but atlast he arrived and a two hour debate followed, when he decided to move the lamp

two inches further. My hopes that this was the final act, were shattered when theOber-Inspector returned and said to me, Regierungsrath Funke is particular that Iwould not dare to give an order for placing this lamp without his explicit approval.Accordingly, arrangements for a visit from that great man were made. We startedcleaning up and polishing early in the morning, and when Funke came with hisretinue he was ceremoniously received. After two hours of deliberation, hesuddenly exclaimed, I must be going!, and pointing to a place on the ceiling, heordered me to put the lamp there. It was the exact spot which I had originallychosen! So it went day after day with variations, but I was determined to achieve, atwhatever cost, and in the end my efforts were rewarded.

By the spring of 1884, all the differences were adjusted, the plant formallyaccepted, and I returned to Paris with pleasing anticipation. One of theadministrators had promised me a liberal compensation in case I succeeded, as wellas a fair consideration of the improvements I had made to their dynamos and Ihoped to realise a substantial sum. There were three administrators, whom I shalldesignate as A, B, and C for convenience. When I called on A, he told me that Bhad the say. This gentleman thought that only C could decide, and the latter wasquite sure that A alone had the power to act. After several laps of this circulusviciousus, it dawned upon me that my reward was a castle in Spain.

The utter failure of my attempts to raise capital for development was another

disappointment, and when Mr. Bachelor pressed me to go to America with a viewof redesigning the Edison machines, I determined to try my fortunes in the Land ofGolden Promise. But the chance was nearly missed. I liquefied my modest assets,secured accommodations and found myself at the railroad station as the train waspulling out. At that moment, I discovered that my money and tickets were gone.What to do was the question. Hercules had plenty of time to deliberate, but I had todecide while running alongside the train with opposite feeling surging in my brainlike condenser oscillations. Resolve, helped by dexterity, won out in the nick oftime and upon passing through the usual experience, as trivial and unpleasant, Imanaged to embark for New York with the remnants of my belongings, somepoems and articles I had written, and a package of calculations relating to solutions

of an unsolvable integral and my flying machine. During the voyage I sat most ofthe time at the stern of the ship watching for an opportunity to save somebody froma watery grave, without the slightest thought of danger. Later, when I had absorbedsome of the practical American sense, I shivered at the recollection and marvelled atmy former folly. The meeting with Edison was a memorable event in my life. I wasamazed at this wonderful man who, without early advantages and scientific training,had accomplished so much. I had studied a dozen languages, delved in literatureand art, and had spent my best years in libraries reading all sorts of stuff that fellinto my hands, from Newtons Principia to the novels of Paul de Kock, and feltthat most of my life had been squandered. But it did not take long before Irecognised that it was the best thing I could have done. Within a few weeks I had

won Edisons confidence, and it came about in this way.The S.S. Oregon, the fastest passenger steamer at that time, had both of

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its lighting machines disabled and its sailing was delayed. As the super-structurehad been built after their installation, it was impossible to remove them from thehold. The predicament was a serious one and Edison was much annoyed. In theevening I took the necessary instruments with me and went aboard the vessel whereI stayed for the night. The dynamos were in bad condition, having several short-circuits and breaks, but with the assistance of the crew, I succeeded in putting them

in good shape. At five oclock in the morning, when passing along Fifth Avenue onmy way to the shop, I met Edison with Bachelor and a few others, as they werereturning home to retire. Here is our Parisian running around at night, he said.When I told him that I was coming from the Oregon and had repaired bothmachines, he looked at me in silence and walked away without another word. Butwhen he had gone some distance I heard him remark, Bachelor, this is a goodman. And from that time on I had full freedom in directing the work. For nearly ayear my regular hours were from 10:30 A.M. until 5 oclock the next morningwithout a days exception. Edison said to me, I have had many hard workingassistants, but you take the cake. During this period I designed twenty-fourdifferent types of standard machines with short cores and uniform pattern, which

replaced the old ones. The Manager had promised me fifty thousand dollars on thecompletion of this task, but it turned out to be a practical joke. This gave me apainful shock and I resigned my position.

Immediately thereafter, some people approached me with the proposal of formingan arc light company under my name, to which I agreed. Here finally, was anopportunity to develop the motor, but when I broached the subject to my newassociates they said, No, we want the arc lamp. We dont care for this alternatingcurrent of yours. In 1886 my system of arc lighting was perfected and adopted forfactory and municipal lighting, and I was free, but with no other possession than abeautifully engraved certificate of stock of hypothetical value. Then followed a

period of struggle in the new medium for which I was not fitted, but the rewardcame in the end, and in April, 1887, the TESLA Electric Co. was organised,providing a laboratory and facilities. The motors I built there were exactly as I hadimagined them. I made no attempt to improve the design, but merely reproduced thepictures as they appeared to my vision and the operation was always as I expected.

In the early part of 1888, an arrangement was made with the WestinghouseCompany for the manufacture of the motors on a large scale. But great difficultieshad still to be overcome. My system was based on the use of low frequency currentsand the Westinghouse experts had adopted 133 cycles with the objects of securingadvantages in transformation. They did not want to depart with their standard forms

of apparatus and my efforts had to be concentrated upon adapting the motor to theseconditions. Another necessity was to produce a motor capable of running efficientlyat this frequency on two wire, which was not an easy accomplishment.

At the close of 1889, however, my services in Pittsburgh being no longer essential, Ireturned to New York and resumed experimental work in a Laboratory on GrandStreet, where I began immediately the design of high-frequency machines. Theproblems of construction in this unexplored field were novel and quite peculiar, andI encountered many difficulties. I rejected the inductor type, fearing that it might notyield perfect sine waves, which were so important to resonant action. Had it notbeen for this, I could have saved myself a great deal of labour. Another

discouraging feature of the high-frequency alternator seemed to be the inconstancyof speed which threatened to impose serious limitations to its use. I had alreadynoted in my demonstrations before the American Institution of Electrical Engineers,that several times

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the tune was lost, necessitating readjustment, and did not yet foresee what Idiscovered long afterwards, a means of operating a machine of this kind at a speedconstant to such a degree as not to vary more than a small fraction of one revolutionbetween the extremes of load. From many other considerations, it appeareddesirable to invent a simpler device for the production of electric oscillations.

In 1856, Lord Kelvin had exposed the theory of the condenser discharge, but nopractical application of that important knowledge was made. I saw the possibilitiesand undertook the development of induction apparatus on this principle. Myprogress was so rapid as to enable me to exhibit at my lecture in 1891, a coil givingsparks of five inches. On that occasion I frankly told the engineers of a defectinvolved in the transformation by the new method, namely, the loss in the sparkgap. Subsequent investigation showed that no matter what medium is employed,be it air, hydrogen, mercury vapour, oil, or a stream of electrons, the efficiency isthe same. It is a law very much like the governing of the conversion of mechanicalenergy. We may drop a weight from a certain height vertically down, or carry it tothe lower level along any devious path; it is immaterial insofar as the amount of

work is concerned. Fortunately however, this drawback is not fatal, as by properproportioning of the resonant, circuits of an efficiency of 85 percent is attainable.Since my early announcement of the invention, it has come into universal use andwrought a revolution in many departments, but a still greater future awaits it.

When in 1900 I ob

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